Hope fading for recovery of northern cod: ‘This stock isn’t growing’
HALIFAX — Hopes have been dashed for a recovery of the once mighty northern cod stock off Newfoundland, a leading conservation group says.
Three years after scientists confirmed there were signs of a comeback and catch limits were increased, the federal government decided this week to reduce the limit.
Ottawa cited a spring stock assessment that found the cod population had declined 30 per cent after seven years of rebuilding.
However, Oceana Canada says the 9,600-tonne catch limit announced Tuesday — a 25-per-cent reduction when compared with last year — is still too high.